Broken Lens HELP!!!

jamesx92 · Jun 9, 2015

Hi all,

So my Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1/8 lens wasn't working properly recently, the aperture ring became unresponsive when it was turned and wouldn't turn to 16, it would literally stop. The focus ring also wouldn't retract all the way to infinity. I got this fixed for an outrageous amount of money at a repairman in the city.
A few hours later, I was using the lens and something has happened when i was turning it to make this problem reoccur.

Has he not fixed it properly or is it something I'm doing to cause this? I was using it as normal, I've turned the aperture ring and it made a weird click and then the same problems were happening.

Cheers for any help!

jamesx92 · Jun 9, 2015

So it's definetely something he's missed in 'repairing' the lens? For the price I paid I could have bought another after he quoted me much less

Sirius Glass · Jun 9, 2015

Return it for re-repair.

Old-N-Feeble · Jun 9, 2015

It should have at least a 30 warranty.

Brett Rogers · Jun 10, 2015

jamesx92 said:
Hi all,

So my Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1/8 lens wasn't working properly recently, the aperture ring became unresponsive when it was turned and wouldn't turn to 16, it would literally stop. The focus ring also wouldn't retract all the way to infinity. I got this fixed for an outrageous amount of money at a repairman in the city.
A few hours later, I was using the lens and something has happened when i was turning it to make this problem reoccur.

Has he not fixed it properly or is it something I'm doing to cause this? I was using it as normal, I've turned the aperture ring and it made a weird click and then the same problems were happening.

Cheers for any help!

Why are you asking us? You've paid an "outrageous amount of money" to have it fixed. Go back to whoever it was you paid that sum to, and ask them politely to fix it, properly, this time.

jamesx92 · Jun 10, 2015

I'm asking because I'm new to film photography and I thought this was a forum where I could get a free experienced opinion, if I believe he's a rip off (which I do) I could go back and have him tell me it's something I've done which I wouldn't be able to argue without gaining knowledge get from this forum. That's why I'm asking "you". Either help or politely move along

jamesx92 · Jun 10, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
Send it back, but don't rag on him. It happens to the best of repairmen. Remember I could be wrong, and it may be something he had nothing to do with. Or he could have simply failed to tighten up a small screw, and will likely admit his fault. He'll know when he sees it. If I am indicative of the average repairman, I'd be honest with the customer. Most people are honest, still; you have to believe.

Thanks. When I picked it up it all worked fine, but was using it a few hours later and the same problem began happening. So I just wanted to see if I could somehow be causing the issue by somehow using the lens wrong.

mr rusty · Jun 10, 2015

Hi. The zuiko 50mm f1.8 is a great lens, but was sold with just about every olympus camera made. There are millions of them out there. In the UK even the buy it now's on that famous auction site are only around £20. Often you can get for much less. They do sometimes have sticky apertures, so worth getting one where snappy aperture is mentioned. Barely worth worrying about - just get another and move on.

OM's are great cameras!

Ricardo Miranda · Jun 10, 2015

mr rusty said:
Hi. The zuiko 50mm f1.8 is a great lens, but was sold with just about every olympus camera made. There are millions of them out there. In the UK even the buy it now's on that famous auction site are only around £20. Often you can get for much less. They do sometimes have sticky apertures, so worth getting one where snappy aperture is mentioned. Barely worth worrying about - just get another and move on.

OM's are great cameras!

I couldn't agree more!

James
There are at least 5 versions of the OM Zuiko 50mm /1.8
If yours is a later "Made in Japan" version, although optically is excellent, but Olympus "simplified" the mechanics and it is more difficult to repair it especially the optics, which isn't your case.
Earlier OM 50mm /1.8 were better for maintenance.

Here is the repair manual for the 50mm /1.8. Note the 5 versions: http://olympus.dementix.org/Hardware/PDFs/50mm_f1.8.pdf

Good luck!

benjiboy · Jun 10, 2015

I suggest you take the lens back to the repairer and ask him to make it right since you paid good money for him to repair it.

Hilo · Jun 10, 2015

I agree you better go back to this repairman. It is difficult to do something wrong with a lens like that. If he wants to charge more, don't do it, take the lens with you and tell him goodbye for good. After that you have a broken lens and the chance to find many other examples costing very little. There are worse things in life !

nsurit · Jun 10, 2015

I would take it back and have him fix what he didn't fix the first time. I doubt he knew it wasn't fixed properly. I can't imagine his repair cost would be more than what a used 50mm f1.8 might cost. Were it me, I would treat it casually when talking to the repair guy. Don't assume he is trying to rip you off, but rather explain the problem and assume he will make it right for you. My experience is that people are not out to get you and want their customers to be happy. Treat him with respect and you will probably get the same in return. If all else fails, post a WTB on this list and I am sure you will find what you need. Bill Barber

Brett Rogers · Jun 10, 2015

jamesx92 said:
I'm asking because I'm new to film photography and I thought this was a forum where I could get a free experienced opinion, if I believe he's a rip off (which I do) I could go back and have him tell me it's something I've done which I wouldn't be able to argue without gaining knowledge get from this forum. That's why I'm asking "you". Either help or politely move along

I can certainly be impolite if impoliteness is called for, happily it rarely ever truly is. My comment was on the money, to the point as it was. If you have a problem, with the lens you can either write it off, get yourself another one, or take it back and get it sorted out. Given that from your own advice the repair was not inexpensive, was recommending that you first seek redress, politely, with the person who was paid to remedy its faults really so inappropriate? I would suggest not. We could theorise all week about what the problem with your lens is. Which will get you nowhere in particular. On the other hand contacting the repairer will inform future options whether positive or not and you will then be able to make further choices depending on the direction things take. Now, stop being so bloody thin-skinned. Or perhaps give us a list of answers you require in future, before posting questions, so we can be assured of not giving you any comments you may not wish to read.

MattKing · Jun 10, 2015

And well you are back asking the repairer to make it right, I would ask for an explanation about the difference between the estimate and the final bill.

Did you approve the extra cost before the work was done?

sagai · Jun 10, 2015

jamesx92 said:
Hi all,

So my Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1/8 lens wasn't working properly recently, the aperture ring became unresponsive when it was turned and wouldn't turn to 16, it would literally stop. The focus ring also wouldn't retract all the way to infinity. I got this fixed for an outrageous amount of money at a repairman in the city.
A few hours later, I was using the lens and something has happened when i was turning it to make this problem reoccur.

Has he not fixed it properly or is it something I'm doing to cause this? I was using it as normal, I've turned the aperture ring and it made a weird click and then the same problems were happening.

Cheers for any help!

James,
I have two of this f1.8 and I barely use them.
If you pay the shipment I can send one of these to you. I am in Hungary.
And keep shooting [emoji12] and posting nice images for us.
Cheers

Xmas · Jun 10, 2015

jamesx92 said:
Hi all,

So my Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1/8 lens wasn't working properly recently, the aperture ring became unresponsive when it was turned and wouldn't turn to 16, it would literally stop. The focus ring also wouldn't retract all the way to infinity. I got this fixed for an outrageous amount of money at a repairman in the city.
A few hours later, I was using the lens and something has happened when i was turning it to make this problem reoccur.

Has he not fixed it properly or is it something I'm doing to cause this? I was using it as normal, I've turned the aperture ring and it made a weird click and then the same problems were happening.

Cheers for any help!

You just need to take it back with the receipt/invoice, and indicate it stopped working.

The problem with old cameras is they are cheap to buy because there is no demand but just as expensive to repair. But after a professional repair it should work as new.

It is frequently cheaper to get a replacement just like a digital camera.

John Koehrer · Jun 10, 2015

Well, the consensus is to take it back.

Yup, that's my opinion too. If you used a credit card and he's unwilling to make it right, take it up with the charge card folks.

Ask any question you like. Some folks are just crankypantses.

mehguy · Jun 10, 2015

go back to the repairman. I dont know why you're asking here since the repairman was the person who screwed up and took your money.

Sirius Glass · Jun 10, 2015

John Koehrer said:
Ask any question you like. Some folks are just crankypantses.

None of us were born with this knowledge, so ask your questions.

scepticswe · Jun 11, 2015

Olympus lenses have a fairly complex aperture mechanism, with more moving parts than many other manufacturers use (I've repaired Nikkor, Canon, Minolta, Contax Zeiss, Konica and Olympus lenses). The probability of screwing up is simpky higher for Olympus lenses, at least IMHO.

That fact doesn't excuse improper repair at a high cost, though. I'd return it and ask for a free, correctly done, repair.

Xmas · Jun 11, 2015

scepticswe said:
Olympus lenses have a fairly complex aperture mechanism, with more moving parts than many other manufacturers use (I've repaired Nikkor, Canon, Minolta, Contax Zeiss, Konica and Olympus lenses). The probability of screwing up is simpky higher for Olympus lenses, at least IMHO.

That fact doesn't excuse improper repair at a high cost, though. I'd return it and ask for a free, correctly done, repair.

Or money back.
If a repair is just removal of lube turned to wax or removal of dust/ fungus/etc. it is a major strip and rebuild.
That would be uneconomic for a 5cm /1.8 OM lens.
If it is a sleepy iris removing the bayonet ring and cleaning with qtip takes seconds and is normally all you need with one of the /1.8 variants but still may be uneconomic in a repair shop.
OM1s are cheaper to buy than have repaired.

benjiboy · Jun 11, 2015

MattKing said:
And well you are back asking the repairer to make it right, I would ask for an explanation about the difference between the estimate and the final bill.

Did you approve the extra cost before the work was done?

I know you're a lawyer Matt but in UK law an estimate is only a ballpark figure and not legally binding depending on the difficulties encountered while doing the job, whereas a quotation is.

MattKing · Jun 11, 2015

benjiboy said:
I know you're a lawyer Matt but in UK law an estimate is only a ballpark figure and not legally binding depending on the difficulties encountered while doing the job, whereas a quotation is.

Retired lawyer, actually.

But I wasn't necessarily suggesting a challenge.

The terms "estimate" and "quotation" get bandied around rather loosely, but I agree there is a difference.

I think though that there is often an expectation that a customer will be contacted and given the option to change instructions when it appears that the work necessary will cost a lot more than originally estimated.

And some times, when an estimate is provided, there is an intention to give a deal. It also can't hurt to both remind the repairer of the earlier estimate, and to understand why the eventual bill was so much more.

benjiboy · Jun 12, 2015

MattKing said:
Retired lawyer, actually.

But I wasn't necessarily suggesting a challenge.

The terms "estimate" and "quotation" get bandied around rather loosely, but I agree there is a difference.

I think though that there is often an expectation that a customer will be contacted and given the option to change instructions when it appears that the work necessary will cost a lot more than originally estimated.

And some times, when an estimate is provided, there is an intention to give a deal. It also can't hurt to both remind the repairer of the earlier estimate, and to understand why the eventual bill was so much more.

I'm amazed at how many people in the building trade there are who don't know the difference.

Broken Lens HELP!!!

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sagai

Xmas

John Koehrer

mehguy

Sirius Glass

scepticswe

Xmas

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